Composite container and method of making same



8 1964 I A. E. BALOCCA 3,142,433

COMPOSITE CONTAINER AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Jan. 8, 1962 INVENTOR. Al fAtfl fflWARfi B/IMKM ATT'dR/VE'YS United States Patent 3,142,433 CGMPOSITE CONTAINER AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Alfred Edward Ballocca, Wheaton, 11]., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Jan. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 164,846 18 Claims. (Cl. 229-51) The present invention relates to a composite container having an easy open feature and in particular to a container having a body of a relatively soft, compressible material and a relatively hard, rigid end closure with a readily removable strip formed integral with the body and partially enclosed within the end seam securing the closure to the body.

Containers having a pull-out strip enclosed within an end seam for easy opening of the container are known in the art. However, the pullout strip used with these prior art containers initially is separate and distinct from either the body or the end. Incorporating such a separate strip into the end seam gives rise to very difficult problems of manufacture in that it necessitates precise control and registration of the strip throughout the various manufacturing operations.

It is therefore an object of the instant invention to provide a composite container having an easy open feature which container is relatively simple to manufacture.

A further object is to provide a composite container which may be tightly sealed and yet relatively easy to open.

Yet another object is to provide a composite container which is relatively easy to manufacture and to open and may be reclosed for storage of any unused portion of the container contents.

Another object is to provide a method of making the composite container.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

The above objects are accomplished by providing a hollow body of a relatively soft, compressible material, such as fibre or plastic, having a peripheral margin adjacent one end folded back upon itself to provide a hem. The attachment of the hem to the body is weakened by providing a line of weakness between the two. A relatively hard, rigid end closure member, preferably of metal, engages at its periphery the body end and a portion of the hem attached thereto, including the line of weakness, to securely join the end and the body in an end seam. Since the hem which forms a pull-out strip is an integral part of the body, no special provision for individualcontrol and registration of this hem is necessary during manufacture of the container. To open the container it is necessary merely to grasp an exposed portion of the hem, pull it down and out to remove it from the end seam thereby loosening the end closure from frictional engagement with the body. Ready separation of the hem from the body results from the previously formed line of weakness between the two and enclosed in the end seam.

Referring to the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of the composite container of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a body blank used in the making of the subject container;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of one means of providing a line of weakness between the container body and the hem;

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FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 4--4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the end seam of FIGURE 4 with the pull-strip or hem removed;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 66 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of end seam;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of container embodying the instant invention; and

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 99 of FIGURE 8.

A preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention, FIGURE 1 shows a container generally designated 10 having a tubular body 12 formed of a relatively soft, compressible material such as plastic or fibre, preferably the latter. The body 12 is formed from a flat blank 14. Blank 14 is made wider than necessary for the desired body weight to provide an extension 16 along its upper longitudinal edge.

In the preferred form shown in FIGURE 2 the opposite corners of the extension 16 are removed; and in addition the extension adjacent one of the removed corners has an inwardly and downwardly angled notch 17 to provide a free end 18 on the extension 16. The extension 16 is then folded down onto that surface of the blank 14 which will constitute the outside of the body 12 to provide a hem 19 shown in dot-dash lines in FIGURE 2. The line of fold 20 between the blank 14 and the hem 19 constitutes the upper periphery of the subsequently formed body 12.

After the extension 16 is folded down upon the blank 14, the line of fold 24) between the two is weakened in any suitable manner. The preferred weakening procedure illustrated in FIGURE 3 involves moving the blank 14 past a rotating cutter wheel 22 and forcing the line of fold 20 against the cutting blades of the wheel. The cutter Wheel 22 having the blades thereof disposed at the proper angle cuts or skives a portion of the hem 19 and the blank 14 which portion includes the fold line 20. Sufficient material is removed in this operation to leave a very tenuous or weak connection between the hem 19 and blank 14. This connection is sufficient to hold the hem 19 onto the blank 14 for subsequent container forming operations; but is sufficiently weak to permit easy separation of the two when desired.

The blank 14 is rolled into tubular configurations and the transverse margins thereof bonded in overlapping relation to form the body 12 with a longitudinally extending side seam 24 (FIGURE 1). The hem 19 because of its attachment to the blank 14, albeit a weakened attachment, follows the contour of the body 12 forming a substantially circumferential strip around the upper periphery of the body 12. Because of its separation from the body, the free end 18 of the hem extends slightly outwardly from the body.

An end generally designated 26 of relatively hard, rigid material, preferably sheet metal, is then frictionally secured to the tubular body 12. The end 26 comprises a substantially planar central panel 28 which is surrounded by a substantially U-shaped channel generally designated 30 (FIGURE 4). The channel 30 comprises an outer vertical wall or skirt 32 which is joined to an inner vertical wall 34 which merges into the central panel 28. The free end of the skirt 32 is turned inwardly to form a pe ripheral head 36. The weakened connection and the por tions of the hem 19 and body 12 immediately adjacent thereto are enclosed within the channel 30 and frictionally engaged between the walls 32 and 34 thereof. This engagement forms an end seam 35 by which the end 26 is secured to the body 12.

To insure tight engagement of the walls 32, 34 with the contiguous body and hem portions and thereby a tight seam 35, the head 36 bites into or compresses the material of the hem. The compressibility of the body and its integral hem enables this tight frictional engagement of these portions within the channel 30. A metal end 37, similar to the end 26 closes the bottom of the body 12. A peripheral, U-shaped channel, narrower than the channel 39 because only one thickness of body stock is retained therein (except for the side seam area) frictionally engages the lower body periphery to form a lower end seam 39.

As mentioned hereinbefore the corner of the extension 16 is removed. The Width of this removed corner is equal to the amount of overlap in the side seam 24 to avoid three thicknesses of body stock in the channel at the side seam. With this construction the hem 19 extends from the side seam 24 circumferentially of the body. Because of the notch 17 and the removed corner adjacent thereto, only one thickness of body material adjacent the notch is enclosed within the channel 30, as best seen in FIGURE 6. As mentioned previously, the notch 17 enables the free end 18 to extend outwardly from the seam thereby providing a readily graspable tab for manually pulling and removal of the hem 19 from the channel 30. Such removal of the hem loosens the engagement of the channel 30 with the body, as shown in FIGURE 5, for ready removal of the end 26 from the body.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a modified form of weakening the connection between the hem and body 12. In this modification a series of spaced slits are cut into the fold line 20 between the extension 16 and blank 14. When the extension 16 is then folded down onto the body blank to form the hem 19, these slit portions open into a series of substantially V-shaped notches 38 along the fold line. It is to be understood that solid material is present between each notch 38. By keeping the solid connecting link between the hem and the body relatively short, slight pulling pressure on the hem 19 breaks through these connections readily separating the hem from the body and removes the hem from the channel 30.

The modified container shown in FIGURE 8 comprises a seamless body 40 and an upper end wall 42 formed in one piece. This body and end wall are preferably formed from plastic in any suitable manner such as injection molding, vacuum or pressure forming or the like. The sides of the body 40 may be vertical or tapered as desired, the latter being preferred as shown in FIGURE 8.

A hem 44 extends circumferentially around the lower periphery of the body 40. The hem 44 may be formed either by folding back the lower periphery of the body 40 upon itself; or the body 40 may be molded with the hem 44 in place. The latter procedure is preferred. The juncture of the body 40 and the hem 44 is weakened in any suitable manner either before or after folding of the hem, if formed by folding; or during or after molding if the hem is formed in this manner. This weakening may be accomplished by one of the methods described hereinbefore or, as shown in FIGURE 9, may take the form of partial cutting through or scoring of the material along the juncture. Such scoring results in a groove 46 extending around the lower edge of the body 40 (FIGURE 9).

This groove, including the body and hem portions immediately adjacent thereto, are enclosed and frictionally engaged within a peripheral U-shaped channel 48 of a relatively hard, rigid end closure 50, preferably sheet metal. The end closure 50 and its channel 48 are similar to the end closure 26 and channel 30 previously described.

To provide a free end for manual grasping, the hem 44 has a vertical slit or perforation 52 at one place in its circumference. In opening the container shown in FIG- URE 8, the portion of the hem 44 adjacent the slit 52 is manually grasped and pulled outwardly thereby separating this portion of the hem from its adjacent portion and providing a free end. Thereafter the hem 44 is pulled upwardly to separate it along the weakened connection with the body 40 and remove it from the channel 48 thereby releasing the body from frictional engagement within the channel.

In the previously described embodiments, the line of weakness between the hem and the body of the container is coincident with the fold or juncture line between the two. This construction is preferred because of its simplicity and the ease of removal of the hem from the end seam. However, it is to be understood that the line of weakness may be located in the hem itself slightly below the fold line, or in the body slightly below the fold line. It is essential, however, that the line of weakness be positioned within the end seam.

It is to be noted that opening of the container of the instant invention distorts the body and end very little, if at all. Further, once the hem is removed for opening, the engagement between the removable end and adjacent body portion is loose. These facts enable easy replacement of the removable end on the body for reclosure of the container and storage of any unused portion of its contents.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts and that changes may be made in the steps of the method described and their order of accomplishment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A container comprising a hollow body composed of a relatively soft material and a closure composed of a relatively hard material attached to one end of said body, said body having the peripheral margin adjacent said one end formed to provide a hem on the outside of said body, a substantially peripheral line of weakness at most spaced slightly from the juncture of said hem and said body, said closure comprising a central panel surrounded by a peripheral substantially U-shaped channel integral with said panel, said body end and a portion of said hem including said line of weakness being frictionally engaged in said channel, the remaining portion of said hem adjacent its free edge being without said channel and adapted to be grasped and pulled to tear along said line of weakness and to remove the engaged portion of said hem from said channel thereby releasing said frictional engagement and permitting easy removal of said closure from said body.

2. The container set forth in claim 1 wherein said line of weakness is substantially along said juncture.

3. The container set forth in claim 1 wherein said channel is defined by joined inner and outer substantially vertical walls and said body and said portion of said hem are frictionally engaged between said walls.

4. The container set forth in claim 1 wherein said hem is peripherally discontinuous to provide a free end for grasping and pulling.

5. The container set forth in claim 4 wherein said free end of said hem is separated from said body and extends completely without said channel to provide a pull tab.

6. The container set forth in claim 1 wherein said body is tubular and has a longitudinally extending side seam.

7. The container set forth in claim 6 wherein said hem is peripherally discontinuous at said side seam.

8. The container set forth in claim 7 wherein said tubular body is composed principally of fiber.

9. The container set forth in claim 1 wherein said body is seamless and is composed principally of plastic 10. A container comprising a hollow body composed of a relatively soft material and a sheet metal closure attached to one end of said body, said body having a pcripheral margin adjacent said end formed to provide a hem on the outside of said body, a line of weakness between said body and said hem to enable said hem to be easily torn from said body, said closure comprising a central panel merging at its periphery with a substantially vertical inner wall, said inner Wall merging with a substantially vertical outer Wall terminating at its free end in an inwardly extending curl, said body and a portion of said hem including said line of weakness being frictionally engaged between said inner Vertical wall and at least said inwardly extending curl on said outer Wall to form an end seam, the remaining portion of said hem adjacent its free edge being Without said end seam and adapted to be grasped and pulled to tear along said line of weakness and to release said frictionally engaged portion from between said walls thereby permitting easy removal of said closure from said body.

11. A method of making an easy open container comprising providing a hollow container body of relatively soft material having a peripheral margin thereof formed into a hem on the outside of said body, severing a portion of said material connecting said hem to said body along a substantially peripheral line at most spaced slightly from the juncture of said hem and said body to provide a peripheral line of weakness, enclosing the line of weakness and the body and hem portions immediately adjacent thereto within a substantially U-shaped peripheral channel of a relatively hard end closure, and forcing the sides of said channel towards one another to compress and frictionally engage said body and hem portions therebetween to secure said closure to said body.

12. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein said line of weakness is positioned substantially along the juncture of said hem and said body.

13. A method of making an easy open container comprising providing a flat blank of relatively soft material having an extension along one longitudinal edge thereof, folding said extension along a fold line onto one side of said blank to provide a hem, providing a line of weakness between said hem and said blank by severing a portion of said material connecting said hem to said body, said line of weakness being at most spaced slightly from said fold line, forming said blank into a tubular body with said hem extending around said body on the outside thereof, enclosing the line of weakness and the body and hem portions immediately adjacent thereto within a substantially U-shaped peripheral channel of a relatively hard end closure, and forcing the sides of said channel towards one another to compress and frictionally engage said body and hem portions therebetween to secure said closure to said body.

14. The method set forth in claim 13 wherein said severing is performed prior to said folding.

15. The method set forth in claim 13 wherein said severing is performed subsequent to said folding.

16. A method of making an easy open container comprising molding a seamless hollow container body from a relatively soft material, providing a hem on the outside of said body along one peripheral edge thereof, providing a first line of weakness between said hem and said body extending peripherally and at most spaced slightly from the juncture of said hem and said body, providing a second line of weakness in said hem and extending laterally from said first line of weakness to the free edge of said hem, enclosing said first line of weakness and the body and hem portions immediately adjacent thereto within a substantially U-shaped channel of a relatively hard end closure, and forcing the sides of said channel towards one another to compress and frictionally engage said body and hem portions therebetween to secure said closure to said body.

17. The method set forth in claim 16 wherein said hem is molded into said body.

18. The method set forth in claim 17 wherein said hem is formed by folding a longitudinal extension of said body back on itself.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,622,236 Gunter Mar. 22, 1927 1,800,791 Gunter Apr. 14, 1931 1,998,372 Laycock Apr. 16, 1935 2,633,095 Magill et al Mar. 31, 19 53 

1. A CONTAINER COMPRISING A HOLLOW BODY COMPOSED OF A RELATIVELY SOFT MATERIAL AND A CLOSURE COMPOSED OF A RELATIVELY HARD MATERIAL ATTACHED TO ONE END OF SAID BODY, SAID BODY HAVING THE PERIPHERAL MARGIN ADJACENT SAID ONE END FORMED TO PROVIDE A HEM ON THE OUTSIDE OF SAID BODY, A SUBSTANTIALY PERIPHERAL LINE OF WEAKNESS AT MOST SPACED SLIGHTLY FROM THE JUNCTURE OF SAID HEM AND SAID BODY, SAID CLOSURE COMPRISING A CENTRAL PANEL SURROUNDED BY A PERIPHERAL SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED CHANNEL INTEGRAL WITH SAID PANEL, SAID BODY END AND A PORTION OF SAID HEM INCLUDING SAID LINE OF WEAKNESS BEING FRICTIONALLY ENGAGED IN SAID CHANNEL, THE REMAINING PORTION OF SAID HEM ADJACENT ITS FREE EDGE BEING WITHOUT SAID CHANNEL AND ADAPTED TO BE GRASPED AND PULLED TO TEAR ALONG SAID LINE OF WEAKNESS AND TO REMOVE THE ENGAGED PORTION OF SAID HEM FROM SAID CHANNEL THEREBY RELEASING SAID FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT AND PERMITTING EASY REMOVAL OF SAID CLOSURE FROM SAID BODY. 